Behind the Scenes Magazine | Spring/Summer 2019

Behind the Scenes

MAGAZINE Spring/Summer 2019

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Behind the Scenes MAGAZINE Spring/Summer 2019

Dear Reader, This is an exciting time to be involved with The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts. It’s thrilling to see how the performing arts are transforming lives and we invite you to take that journey with us. Our conservatory and theatre programming work together to fulfill our mission of fostering love and appreciation for the performing arts in audiences of today and tomorrow.

Both our shows and our classes offer something valuable for people of all ages and interests. We understand that people are looking for meaningful connections with their family, friends and community…especially as our lives seem to get more hectic. Taking the time to unplug and enjoy a live performance allows us the opportunity to share an experience that can spark dialogue, encourage understanding and create meaningful memories with each other.

We also recognize that our growth and success would not be possible without you, and we are committed to rewarding our most loyal and engaged patrons, supporters, students and partners. If you dig deeper, you’ll notice some shifts in the way we structure our subscription benefits as well as our approach to selling tickets to the general public that reflect this commitment.

One of the most important changes is that we will have all price levels for next season’s shows available in the orchestra at the time tickets go on sale. People who purchase their tickets early will be rewarded with the best seats at the best prices at this time. As demand for tickets increases, we will release more inventory so that when you attend a show next season, the theatre will be filled from the front to the back.

See you at the theatre,

Lisa K. Condit, Director of Marketing & PR

Share Your Story Do you have a special memory or experience that captures how you feel about The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory?

Post it on your favorite social media using #hanovertheatre for your chance to win monthly prizes or email us at contests@thehanovertheatre.org.

Inside National Endowment for the Arts Recognizes & Supports Impact of Adopt-A-School .............................. 4 Sara Bareilles on ‘Soulful Storytelling’............................... 6 Something for Everyone, Season Show Listing................ 8 Cool Jazz and Sizzling Summer Fun................................ 10 Member Musings: Coming Full Circle............................ 11 Beautiful is Some Kind of Wonderful.............................. 12 Laughter is the Best Medicine........................................ 13 A Bronx Tale, Chazz Palminteri’s True Life Story............ 14

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Broadway’s Big Treat Comes to Worcester.................. 15 Bandstand...Music that Inspired the Nation................. 16 Romance! Adventure! Gershwin! ............................... 17 Buyer Beware ................................................................... 18 Creative Movement Ignites Love for Dance................ 20 Share it! Love it! Enjoy it! Subscribe and Save........... 23

Behind the Scenes at The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory • Spring/Summer 2019

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National Endowment for the Arts Recogni

Students perform a choreographed dance in the aisles at the finale of On Your Feet!, photo Andrea Seward.

The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts is proud to be a 2019 recipient of a Challenge America Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts. The $10,000 grant helped to fund this year’s Adopt-A-School program that took place in March. Challenge America grants support projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations defined as those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics or disability.

“The arts enhance our communities and our lives, and we look forward to seeing these projects take place throughout the country, giving Americans opportunities to learn, to create, to heal, and to celebrate,” said Mary Anne Carter, acting chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts.

“We are honored to have this support and recognition from the National Endowment for the Arts” commented The Hanover Theatre’s director of education, Meghan Montaner. “Our Adopt-A-School program is a labor of love meant to provide access to the arts for all students. Our work over the last six years has exposed thousands of students to their first live theatrical performance.” The Adopt-A-School program was created in 2013 to provide a school-wide arts experience for Worcester’s South High School.

In the Worcester Public Schools, many students are economically disadvantaged and have limited access page 4

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to the arts in their community. This program aims to provide students in the city with the opportunity to experience and interact with live theatre on an annual basis.

Now in its sixth season, the Adopt-A-School program introduces youth from both Burncoat High School and South High School to Broadway theatre and ties arts into core curriculum concepts to enhance learning.

The theatre’s education staff work collaboratively with teachers to incorporate the themes, history, and social impacts from a Broadway show into lessons across every subject (ELA, history, chemistry, physics, biology, algebra, geometry and more). This year, the theatre partnered with the national tour of On Your Feet! The Emilio & Gloria Estefan Broadway Musical.

After much preparation, both schools attended the show for free and got to witness their lessons come to life on stage. Select students also had the chance to perform in the megamix finale alongside the cast at the exclusive daytime matinee performance that took place on Thursday, March 28. Before the show, cast members Eddie Noel (Emilio) and Debra Cardona (Consuelo) visited the schools to interact with students and see the work they had been doing.

After performing for the students, Marina Pires, the Gloria Estefan understudy said “Thank you so much for the incredibly inspiring work you do. As an immigrant

izes & Supports Impact of Adopt-A-School Social media reactions to the On Your Feet! AdoptA-School experience from cast members Christie Prades, Eddie Noel and Debra Cardona who played starring roles.

A repost by Gloria Estefan had over 13k views.

child I was heavily shaped by the magnet arts program I attended and I cannot tell you how inspired I was on the morning of the student matinee. I cried the whole time! Lol, It’s been our favorite show on tour thus far. The cast is so grateful to you and your program for giving these children the opportunity to grow and shine out loud.”

For many students, On Your Feet! presented a narrative that they could relate to on a personal level. According to Joyce, a senior at South High School, “I have been gifted the opportunity to see a free show at The Hanover Theatre during all four years of high school. From this I can honestly say On Your Feet! was the best musical we’ve seen [at the theatre] because we could all connect with the immigrant slowly climbing up the ranks to success narrative and the crazy ethnic families that support us along the way…the overall cast and live music filled my soul with light hearted joy and excitement! I’m so glad I was not only able to watch this play and enjoy it but also connect with it.”

Student work and projects were displayed in the theatre’s lobby during the public performances of the show March 27-31. The Adopt-A-School program would not be possible without funding from organizations like the National Endowment for the Arts. In addition to funding from the NEA, this year’s program was generously supported by the theatre’s Access to the Arts donors, the McDonough Foundation, the Greater Worcester Community Foundation, Lamoureux Pagano Associates and The 200 Foundation.

Behind the Scenes at The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory • Spring/Summer 2019

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Sara Bareilles on ‘Soulful Storytelling’

May 22-26 Sponsored by UniBank and Worcester State University Maiesha McQueen, Christine Dwyer and Jessie Shelton in the Tour of Waitress, photo Philicia Endelman.

Grammy® award winning singer-songwriter Sara Bareilles wrote the music for the hit musical Waitress.

Broadway in Cincinnati caught up with her in New York in January 2017.

of young women who want to see themselves in jobs as theater directors and composers and writers and choreographers. It’s very gratifying to imagine the impact this might have on someone.

Broadway in Cincinnati: How did you get involved in this project? Had writing music for the stage been something you’d always wanted to do?

Sara Bareilles: I actually never thought about writing music for a Broadway show. I always imagined myself as a performer. I did a little community theater growing up. So when I imagined myself down the road I always thought I would be a theater performer, and then my life took a different turn. But when I moved to New York, I reached out to my agent and wanted to suss out if there were opportunities for me in the theater, perhaps as a performer, and then this presented itself, and I sort of said yes on a whim. I didn’t know what I was saying yes to, and it’s been life changing.

BiC: What about the original movie Waitress resonated with you and made you want to write the music for this?

SB: When I watched Adrienne Shelley’s film, I came away with such a sense of her humanity, and I loved that it was ‘messy.’ I loved that the world she created was not made of black and white, heroes and villains. There is basically no one in this show who is all one thing or the other, and that feels like an honest reflection of life to me. So it was nice to get to try to carve out a deeper sense of soulful storytelling on the characters’ behalf with music in a way that spoke to that. It’s complicated, which felt very human to me, and I love that.

BiC: What was it like to be a part of such an incredible…and all-female…creative team? That doesn’t happen often.

SB: I don’t think we knew that it was groundbreaking at the time, because it wasn’t really a decision to specifically choose women for these roles, which is why I feel so proud that it happened organically. We were just the right people for these positions, and I always really love thinking about the next generation page 6

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BiC: How does writing for the stage differ from what you’ve done as a recording artist?

SB: What I love about writing for the stage is that it’s all about the character and the storytelling.

Progressing the story and getting information across, but doing it in a way that is true to the character’s essence. As someone who has been brought up as a pop writer, I think sometimes it’s easy to fall into certain patterns. But for me stepping into the theater was like: Oh the gloves are off. There are no rules.

BiC: Do you want to write more for the stage?

SB: I would love to do more shows. Going to the theater has been a great love of my life from childhood. So now being a part of a team that’s creating one of these experiences is deeply gratifying. I know better now how much time it takes and so I will think about that next time, but I’m hooked. I loved it and felt so warmly embraced by the community at large and I feel undyingly grateful for that so I would love to continue to get to lend whatever I can to this medium.

You can kind of do anything, so it was very liberating and playful. I so enjoyed getting the puzzle of it. You get a short amount of time to deliver a lot of information or to deepen a relationship. It was all about putting the puzzle pieces together and that was really fun.

Really hard, but really fun.

BiC: Is there a particular moment when you can tell the audience is with you, investing in the characters?

SB: I love this show because there are a lot of those mile markers throughout the show.

One of the moments that comes to my mind is when you meet Ogie, who is sort of our lovable clown. He doesn’t come on stage until about 50 minutes into the show, but he provides such comic relief, and you feel the audience get buoyed up by his joy and his guilelessness.

I love that moment because you know that they’ve gone to a deeper place just prior, and they’re relieved for the release of the tension. It means they’ve been invested in the characters’ journey, which I love.

BiC: What is your favorite song in the show, and what song was hardest to write?

SB: The hardest song by far was the opening number. I rewrote it 195 times, and when we finally got it, I was in tears. We were in this tiny little backstage music director’s room and everyone’s piled in there and I’m like: Is this it? And Diane [Paulus], our director, was like: YES! And I was like: Oh my gosh!

My favorite song to write I think was “She Used to be Mine.” It was the first song I wrote and it was my portal into the world of Waitress. It was me actively falling in love with this character and seeing so much of my story reflected in hers, even though our circumstances are very different.

That song remains incredibly special to me.

Christine Dwyer as Jenna in Waitress, photo Tim Trumble.

About the Show Brought to life by a groundbreaking all-female creative team, this irresistible new hit features original music and lyrics by six-time Grammy® nominee Sara Bareilles (“Brave,” “Love Song”). Inspired by Adrienne Shelly’s beloved film, Waitress tells the story of Jenna, a waitress and expert pie maker who dreams of a way out of her small town and loveless marriage. A baking contest in a nearby county and the town’s new doctor may offer her a chance at a fresh start, while her fellow waitresses offer their own recipes for happiness.

But Jenna must summon the strength and courage to rebuild her own life.

Don’t miss this uplifting musical celebrating friendship, motherhood, and the magic of a well-made pie when it comes to The Hanover Theatre May 22-26, sponsored

by UniBank and Worcester State University.

BiC: Who are you seeing in the audience of Waitress?

SB: There are a lot of mothers and daughters, and our story is about a soon-to-be mother and her relationship with her friends, so there are a lot of sisters and friends. But there are a lot of men too and a lot of young people, which I love.

I interviewed every kind of audience member that I could find and they all came out saying they were surprised by the journey that they went on.

And the thing that I found the most gratifying was that they all came away feeling like they’d been taken on an emotional journey. They didn’t know they were going to laugh so much and they didn’t know that they were going to cry. The story we’re telling is a really heartfelt one and there’s something in there for everybody.

BiC: Why do you think people should see this show?

SB: I really think people will enjoy this musical. There’s a lot of humor. There’s a lot of heart.

I personally think the music is really good. It’s a small show and we’re a small team, and we took great care in putting the show together and crafting the right cast and crew and band.

It’s a painstaking process, but it’s done with so much love.

Behind the Scenes at The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory • Spring/Summer 2019

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The new Worcester. . .where

May 16

May 18

June 21

July 12

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MARCUS PHOTO BY JOAN

May 16 Anka Sings Sinatra: His Songs, My Songs, My Way sponsored by Chacharone Properties May 17 John Cusack Live with a Screening of “Say Anything...” supported by Bank of America May 18 Purple Reign: The Prince Tribute Show!

May 19 Conservatory Spring Reflection May 20 Historic & Architectural Theatre Tour free to members!

May 22-26 Waitress sponsored by UniBank and Worcester State University June 1 Raffi June 12 Historic & Architectural Theatre Tour free to members!

June 8-9 Charlotte Klein Dance Studios 2019 recitals June 20 Whose Live Anyway? with Dave Foley, Joel Murray, Greg Proops and Jeff B. Davis June 21 Tyler Henry: The Hollywood Medium June 26 Historic & Architectural Theatre Tour free to members!

July 10 Historic & Architectural Theatre Tour free to members!

July 12 Jazz at Sunset, featuring Dwight & Nicole presented by WICN and the Theatre District Alliance* July 26-27 The Music Man presented by the Teen Youth Summer Program July 31 Historic & Architectural Theatre Tour free to members!

Aug 2 Jazz at Sunset, featuring Michael Dutra and the Strictly Sinatra Band* Aug 10 The Music Man Jr. presented by the Pre-Teen Youth Summer Program Aug 16-17 The Music Man presented by the Teen Youth Summer Program Aug 21 Historic & Architectural Theatre Tour free to members!

Sept 6 Peppa Pig Live: Peppa’s Pig Adventure!

Sept 15 A Night with Janis Joplin* Sept 20 Catapult* Oct 3 REO Speedwagon with special guest Charlie Farren sponsored by Herb Chambers of Auburn Oct 8-9 PAW Patrol Live! “Race to the Rescue”* Oct 15 Cirque Mechanics: 42 FT, A Menagerie of Mechanical Marvels* Oct 17 Carol Burnett: An Evening of Laughter and Reflection presented by Ed Atamian Nov 7 Get the Led Out* Nov 8 2019 film by Warren Miller Entertainment* Nov 29 - Dec 1 The Nutcracker sponsored by Commerce Bank, a division of Berkshire Bank* Dec 6 2019 Boston Pops Holiday Tour sponsored by The Hanover Insurance Group* Dec 8 Lewis Black: The Joke’s on US Tour Dec 15-23 A Christmas Carol sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts and Assumption College* Dec 22 Relaxed Performance of A Christmas Carol* * This show may not be on sale at the time of printing. Please note, shows, dates, pricing and times subject to change.

the arts come to life. Enjoy it!

October 3

October 15

October 17

s ie r e S y a w d a 2019-2020 Bro .O 17 | OV ER TU RE JU N 13 -18 , 20

Sept 26-29 Oct 31 - Nov 3 Jan 16-19 March 3-8 March 19-22 April 23-26 May 27-31

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Beautiful – The Carole King Musical sponsored by Fidelity Investments The Play that Goes Wrong A Bronx Tale supported by Bank of America Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory sponsored by Reliant Medical Group Bandstand An American in Paris sponsored by Commerce Bank, a division of Berkshire Bank 7th Broadway Show (tba July 1) sponsored by Bay State Savings Bank

MORE BENEFITS | National Broadway Tours Learn more about the numerous benefits of becoming a Broadway Series Subscriber and the top reasons to subscribe at TheHanoverTheatre.org/subscriptions.

MORE OPTIONS | Subscribers & Members Please note, tickets to some of these shows may not be on sale yet to the public. Did you know that subscribers and members get early access to tickets and discounts on almost every show? Visit TheHanoverTheatre.org to become a member or subscriber to take advantage of more options.

MORE ACCESSABILITY | Audio Description & ASL services are available at select performances thanks to the generosity of Audio Journal and FLEXcon. Every show at the theatre is wheelchair accessible. Options may be limited, so be sure to contact the box office when you purchase your tickets so we may accommodate your request in advance.

Behind the Scenes at The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory • Spring/Summer 2019

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Cool Jazz and Sizzling Summer Fun The Theatre District Alliance and WICN 90.5 FM present the return of Jazz at Sunset this summer in the lot behind The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory. The series consists of two performances. The first features the music of American indie-soul band, Dwight & Nicole on Friday, July 12. The second performance features Michael Dutra and the Strictly Sinatra Band on Friday, August 2.

Both shows begin at 6:30 pm. Be sure to arrive early to allow time for parking and bring your own chair for this unique outdoor experience. There will be a cash bar, food trucks and a limited number of VIP stage-front tables for four. Tickets go on sale May 28, visit TheHanoverTheatre.org or call 877.571.7469 for tickets.

Dwight & Nicole band members, Dwight Ritcher, Nicole Nelson and Ezra Oklan are well known for their dynamic live shows and well-crafted songs. Ritcher plays a Gibson Flying V guitar.

Since picking up his first one as a teenager in Long Branch, NJ, he has never played anything else. Nelson, a gifted singer and classical violinist from NYC, has described the bass as her first real love. She picked it up again in 2015 and has not looked back. The recent addition of powerhouse drummer Ezra Oklan to the band has solidified their sound.

“Take R&B, soul, blues and jazz, mix in razor-sharp rock guitar... heat to boiling, and watch your face melt.

That’s Dwight & Nicole.” ~ Relix Magazine

July 12

Get ready for Michael Dutra and the Strictly Sinatra Band to fly you to the moon. Rhode Island native Michael Dutra has been hailed as one of the finest interpreters of the Sinatra sound in the world. Since 2002, he has been performing his tribute to Frank Sinatra all over the United States, from Las Vegas to Miami. Michael regularly performs approximately 275 nights a year in all types of venues. His true passion comes out when he is performing with his own Strictly Sinatra Band.

August 2

“His sound is velour to Sinatra’s velvet.

You really can’t tell the difference.”

~Westley Morris, Boston Globe

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Member Musings: Coming Full Circle

Scene from Beauty and the Beast JR. presented by the 2018 Pre-Teen Youth Summer Program under the direction of Jennifer Ivascyn-Dowdle, photo Andrea Seward.

You never know where life is going to take you, but in speaking with Jennifer Ivascyn-Dowdle, it is easy to see how our childhood experiences and community activities add depth and richness to our adult lives.

We’re pleased to shine our member spotlight on Jennifer, along with her husband, Michael, two of our newest All Access Club members and proudest supporters.

“Our connection to The Hanover Theater for the Performing Arts is deeply personal. As a child, I spent hours traveling to Worcester from my home town for acting, singing and dance lessons at the Performing Arts School of Worcester. Their teachers provided the training that ignited my love of theater and helped launch my professional career as an Actors Equity performer and a Radio City Music Hall Rockette.

Twenty years ago, I returned to the Worcester area to pursue a teaching career and help students develop their own performing arts skills. I met my future husband, Michael, at Grafton High School where he taught history while I directed my first student play.

How could I have imagined that our female lead, Meghan Montaner, a Grafton freshman with talent and poise beyond her years, would one day become the visionary director of education at The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts?

The Hanover Theatre is our city’s greatest treasure. Its Broadway shows bring friends, family and neighbors together to enjoy quality theatrical productions.

For our family, The Hanover Theatre represents two passions, the performing arts and education. We became All Access Club members after witnessing firsthand the dedication of Meghan Montaner and her team of committed educators at The Hanover Theatre Conservatory for the Performing Arts. The conservatory’s comprehensive and thoughtful theater curriculum provides opportunities for young artists that is unparalleled. Its impact on students from across Worcester County is inspiring to see. Having danced at Radio City Music Hall, I never felt another stage could mean more to my family. The Hanover Theatre, however, represents excellence, community and an investment in our children. It is now my favorite stage!”

Last summer, Meghan Montaner reconnected with Jennifer and called upon her to direct the Pre-Teen Youth Summer Program, bringing their story full circle.

For more information on the All Access Club and other ways to engage with the theatre, please contact Diane Pieciak at 508.930.2424 or email diane@ thehanovertheatre.org.

Behind the Scenes at The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory • Spring/Summer 2019

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Beautiful - The Carole King Musical is Some Kind of Wonderful!

Sept 26-29 Sponsored by Fidelity Investments Sarah Bockel as Carole King at Carnegie Hall, photo Joan Marcus.

Long before she was Carole King, the chart-topping music legend, she was Carol Klein, Brooklyn girl with passion and chutzpah. She fought her way into the record business as a teenager and, by the time she reached her twenties, had the husband of her dreams and a flourishing career writing hits for the biggest acts in rock ‘n’ roll. But it wasn’t until her personal life began to crack that she finally managed to find her true voice.

Beautiful - The Carole King Musical tells the inspiring true story of King’s remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, to becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Along the way, she made more than beautiful music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation.

Beautiful - The Carole King Musical features a stunning array of beloved songs written by Gerry Goffin/Carole King and Barry Mann/Cynthia Weil, including “I Feel page 12

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The Earth Move,” “One Fine Day,” “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman,” “You’ve Got A Friend” and the title song.

Sponsored by Fidelity Investments, the award-winning musical will kick off The Hanover Theatre’s 2019-2020 Broadway Series September 26-29 and is currently available as part of a subscription. See page 23.

Broadway Brunch | July 27 Visit TheHanoverTheatre.org for more details on a collaborative effort between the city of Worcester and The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory to bring the joy and excitement of Broadway to brunch in downtown on July 27. Enjoy delicious food, refreshments and a delightful performance by a Beautiful - The Carole King Musical cast member. When the question of whether you’ll still love us tomorrow comes up, the answer will be a resounding YES!

Laughter is the Best Medicine with The Play That Goes Wrong Q&A with Producer JJ Abrams

Q: You’re well-known for your film and television work and this is your first venture as a theater producer. As you say in your Playbill bio (paraphrased), “you have no idea what you’re doing here.”

How did you become a lead producer of The Play That Goes Wrong on Broadway and on US tour?

memorably, taking the entire audience of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” to see the production. Tell me a little bit about how you and the other producers went about establishing the brand and how you continue to promote the brand?

Abrams: I became involved with this play when it was already fully formed. Beside the financial investment, my Abrams: I was shooting only real contribution was “The Force Awakens” giving some suggestions for in London, and I had a the American audience. free night. I checked It was the least I could do out what was playing in and my pleasure to help the West End, and I saw promote the play. One something called The of the things we did was Play That Goes Wrong. go on my friend Stephen It sounded like a funny Colbert’s show which was The Play That Goes Wrong National Tour, photo Jeremy Daniel. premise so I bought a an incredible thrill because ticket. When I went to we did something insane see the play, I was amazed by in surprising the audience by the whole construction of it. The inviting them to the performance way it was put together. The immediately after the taping. We The Play That Goes Wrong rhythm of it. The cleverness. The walked hundreds of people (I think is coming to The Hanover Theatre brilliance of the performers. And it was over 400 people) through October 31 – November 3 I met one of the producers, Mark Times Square to the theatre where as part of the 2019-2020 Broadway Bentley, at intermission. He was they got to see the play. It was an Series. Tickets are available an incredibly nice guy, and I unforgettable night. as part of a subscription and found myself asking if there were only subscribers may purchase plans to take this comedy to Q: Why do you think this comedy is additional tickets at their the United States. He said they important for our current times? discounted price before single were considering it but had no tickets go on sale. Please see definitive plans, so I said if I could Abrams: It’s too easy to find page 23 for more info. be of any help, I’d like to be. reasons to be depressed And that’s how it started. From and terrified and unsure and there I talked to my agents about getting involved, disheartened in this moment. And finding something and they put me in touch with a veteran Broadway that is such a pure, unadulterated, hysterically funny producer named Kevin McCollum, who did much and big- hearted piece of entertainment is no small of the heavy lifting in negotiating terms and figuring thing. I think one of the reasons that people are out how to do it since I had never done anything laughing as hard as they are at this show is not just that like it before. And together we brought the play to it is so funny, but that people are so desperate to have Broadway with the original cast. a good time. It’s not just about being distracted by the world, it’s about remembering that one of the great Q: When the play opened in New York, you did reasons we are alive is to come together and to laugh. some public appearances to promote it, including, And The Play That Goes Wrong does that.

Oct 31 - Nov 3

Behind the Scenes at The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory • Spring/Summer 2019

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A Bronx Tale, Chazz Palminteri’s True Life Story Three years ago, Academy® Award nominee Chazz Palminteri teamed up with Academy® Award winner Robert De Niro, Tony® Award winner Jerry Zaks and Tony® Award nominee Sergio Trujillo to create this streetwise musical, based on Palminteri’s true life story.

A Bronx Tale, Broadway’s hit crowd-pleaser, takes you to the stoops of the Bronx in the 1960s, where a young man is caught between the father he loves and the mob boss he’d love to be.

Bursting with high-energy dance numbers and original doo-wop tunes from Academy® Award and Tony® Award winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast) and Tony® Award nominee Glenn Slater (Love Never Dies), A Bronx Tale is an unforgettable story of loyalty and family.

The New York Times hails A Bronx Tale as “A Critics’ Pick!

The kind of tale that makes you laugh and cry.”

Jan 16-19

Supported by Bank of America

Supported by Bank of America, A Bronx Tale is coming to The Hanover Theatre January 16-19 and is included in the 2019-2020 Broadway Series. Enjoy the best seats at the best price for this and six other fresh new shows as part of a subscription package. Visit TheHanoverTheatre.org or call the box office at 877.571.7469 for more information.

See page 23 to learn about our subscription series.

All the real news you need.

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local sports business entertainment All subscriptions include full digital access across all your devices.

Not a subscriber? Visit telegram.com/subscribe or call 800-922-8200. page 14

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Trusted for over 150 years and counting

Broadway’s Big Treat Comes to Worcester Award winner Doug Besterman and music supervision by Nicholas Skilbeck.

Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory tells the story of Willy Wonka, world famous inventor of the Everlasting Gobstopper, who has just made an astonishing announcement. His marvelous, and mysterious factory is opening its gates…to a lucky few. That includes young Charlie Bucket, whose life definitely needs sweetening.

He and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a mesmerizing, life-changing journey through Wonka’s world of pure imagination. Get ready for Oompa-Loompas, incredible inventions, the great glass elevator, and more, more, more at this everlasting showstopper!

With direction by three-time Tony® Award winner Jack O’Brien, Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory features music by Grammy®, Emmy® and Tony® Award winner Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Grammy® and Tony® Award winners Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman, a book by artistic director of Edinburgh’s Royal Lyceum theatre David Greig, choreography by Tony® Award nominee and and additional songs by Emmy® Award winner Joshua Bergasse, Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley from the 1971 Warner Bros. motion picture.

Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory features scenic and costume design by five-time Tony® Award nominee Mark Thompson, lighting design by four-time Tony® Award nominee Japhy Weideman, sound design by Andrew Keister, projection design by Jeff Sugg, puppet and illusion design by Obie and Drama Desk Award winner Basil Twist, orchestrations by three-time Tony®

The hit Broadway musical features songs from the original film, including “Pure Imagination,” “The Candy Man,” and “I’ve Got a Golden Ticket,” alongside a toe-tapping new score from the songwriters from Hairspray.

About Roald Dahl and His Legacy Roald Dahl (1916-1990) was a spy, ace fighter-pilot, chocolate historian and medical inventor.

He was also the author of “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” “Matilda,” “The BFG” and many more brilliant stories. He remains one of the world’s top storytellers.

Henry Boshart as Charlie Bucket and Noah Weisberg as Willy Wonka. Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, photo Joan Marcus.

Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory March 3-8 Sponsored by Reliant Medical Group To guarantee great seats at the best price, subscribe today and enjoy more benefits, including the ability to exchange into alternate performances and purchase additional student tickets at the subscriber discount before the show goes on sale to the public.

Please see page 23.

Visit TheHanoverTheatre.org or call the box office at 877.571.7469.

Sitting in a hut at the bottom of his garden, surrounded by odd bits and pieces such as a suitcase (used as a footrest), his own hipbone (which he’d had replaced) and a heavy ball of metal foil (made from years’ worth of chocolate wrappers), he went on to write some of the world’s best-loved children’s stories. His first children’s story, “James and the Giant Peach,” published in 1961, was a hit, and every subsequent book became a best-seller.

Today, his stories are available in 58 languages and, by a conservative estimate, he has sold more than 250 million books. Many of these stories have also been adapted for stage and screen, including the 1971 film classic “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” Wes Anderson’s acclaimed “Fantastic Mr Fox,” the multi-award winning Matilda The Musical from the RSC with music by Tim Minchin and Steven Spielberg’s blockbuster “The BFG.” The latest adaptation is Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the Musical which opened on Broadway in April 2017 following three golden years in London’s West End.

Behind the Scenes at The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory • Spring/Summer 2019

page 15

Bandstand. . .Music that Inspired the Nation

March 19-22 The cast of Bandstand, photo Michael Pool.

From three-time Tony® winner and Hamilton choreographer, Andy Blankenbuehler, comes Bandstand, a poignant and inspiring new American musical that explodes with infectious music and highoctane, heart-stopping dancing.

It’s 1945. As America’s soldiers come home to tickertape parades and overjoyed families, Private First Class Donny Novitski, singer and songwriter, struggles to rebuild the life he left behind.

When NBC announces a national competition to find the nation’s next great musical superstars, Donny sees a lifeline for himself and some fellow veterans that gives them the purpose they so desperately need.

Together, they form a band unlike any the nation has ever seen. Along the way, they discover the power page 16

TheHanoverTheatre.org • 877.571.SHOW(7469)

of music to face the impossible, find their voice, and finally feel like they have a place to call home.

Bandstand is “both a peppy celebration of cando spirit and a more somber exploration of what American servicemen experienced when they marched home from World War II. It’s a great argument for why theater can sometimes tell a story more boldly and more viscerally” - The New York Times. “The show defies you not to be moved” - Time Out New York.

Bandstand is coming to The Hanover Theatre March 19-22 and is included in the 2019-2020 Broadway Series. Visit TheHanoverTheatre.org or call the box office at 877.571.7469 for more information. Please see page 23 for more information on subscribing.

Romance! Adventure! Gershwin!

Who Could Ask for Anything More?

In post war Paris, romance is in the air and youthful optimism reigns. Gershwin’s soaring melodies are matched by gravity-defying dance as the world rediscovers the power of love in this breathtaking production of An American in Paris. Hoping to start a new life, World War II veteran Jerry Mulligan chooses newly-liberated Paris as the place to make a name for himself as a painter. But Jerry’s life becomes complicated when he meets Lise, a young Parisian shop girl with her own secret, and realizes he is not her only suitor. Winner of four Tony® Awards and inspired by the Academy® Award-winning film, this exquisite production features your favorite Gershwin songs including “I Got Rhythm,” “Liza,” “‘S Wonderful,” “But Not for Me” and “Stairway to Paradise.”

Subscribe today for great seats at the best price for this award-winning musical, included in the 2019-2020 Broadway Series.

Sponsored by Commerce Bank, a division of Berkshire Bank, An American in Paris is coming to The Hanover Theatre April 23-26. Visit TheHanoverTheatre.org, contact the box office at 877.571.7469 for more information or see page 23 for subscription options.

“Pure Joy… An American in Paris is a TRIUMPH!” ~New York Times

Sponsored by Commerce Bank, a division of Berkshire Bank

April 23-26

*Bonus Terms & Conditions: Open a new personal Intelligent Checking account online and receive a $250 bonus1 when the following criteria is met, during each of the first three (3) full statement cycles: complete 12 debit card purchases, have direct deposit or one (1) ACH transaction per statement cycle, and receive e-statements.

IC’s intelligent Checking is an interest-bearing account which earns 2.59% Annual Percentage Yield (APY) on balances up to and including $15,000 when qualifying requirements are met.

Balances after $15,001, will earn .25% APY after qualifying criteria is met. Open the account with as little as $5. ATM fees will be refunded up to $5 per statement cycle when qualifying requirements are met. If qualifying requirements are not met, account will earn 0.05% APY and ATM fees will not be refunded. Any non-refunded ATM fees may reduce earnings.

1This offer is available for new accounts only and we may decline those who have had an Intelligent Checking account within the last 12 months. Offer is only available to persons in IC’s Field of Membership, and cannot be combined with other offers. You must be 18 years or older to open an online account. This is a one-time bonus offer, per person, only. If qualifying criteria is met, the bonus will be credited to your account within 10 days after the third full statement cycle. A bonus is considered interest and therefore RewardingYouEveryday.org will be reported to the IRS on Form 1099-INT. Federally insured by NCUA Minimum monthly balance not required. Rates effective as of 3/1/19 and may change without notice. Offer may be withdrawn at any time; valid Behind the Scenes at The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory • Spring/Summer for online account2019 opening only. page 17

Hard work pays off... ... and so does being a Member at IC! Just open a High-Yield Intelligent Checking Online

AND you can receive a

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Buyer Beware!

When purchasing tickets online, please take a minute to ensure you are on the theatre’s official website, TheHanoverTheatre.org or https://tickets. thehanovertheatre.org. The number of ticket resellers has grown exponentially over the last decade, and some of these sites look very official. Buyer beware... because there is a good chance that you will pay far more for tickets than their face value. In addition, if we don’t have your contact information connected to your ticket, we can’t notify you of important changes or potential cancellations.

Our goal is to provide the best value in conjunction with the best customer service possible. It is important for us to have the ability to contact our ticketholders and it is part of our standard procedure to send event confirmations. We also send emails with new show

announcements and special offers. You can control the frequency of these emails, and rest assured…your data is safe with us. We never sell or share our lists. If you haven’t signed up for our online newsletter, it’s easy. Simply visit TheHanoverTheatre.org and follow the link at the top right corner to join our mailing list or update your account.

Our general manager, R. Glen Grusmark says, “We have been doing a lot of research into this matter and it’s an issue wherever and whenever you are buying tickets. The lines are blurring between a professional scalper and someone who resells their tickets. The only way to guarantee that you will get the best seats and the best service, at the best price is to purchase your tickets from our box office, either in person or by calling 877.571.SHOW (7469) or TheHanoverTheatre.org.”

Members Make the Difference Every dollar of your membership donation, regardless of level, goes to directly support the mission of our organization. Did you know that only $3 from each ticket goes to support our nonprofit organization? In addition to early access and discounts to most shows, page 18

TheHanoverTheatre.org • 877.571.SHOW(7469)

all members may exchange their tickets for another performance of the same show and enjoy special offers at over 25 participating restaurants in our gourmet program. Visit TheHanoverTheatre.org/membership for more information and join today.

Summer Dance

Open Ballet Classes Tuesdays and Thursdays June 18 – August 29 Ages 7-9: 4-5:15 pm Ages 10-13: 5:15-6:45 pm Ages 14+: 7-8:30 pm Pointe Intensive June 19 – August 28 Wednesdays 5–7 pm Adult Ballet Class June 19 – August 28 Wednesdays 7–8:30 pm

Dance Intensive Week August 12–16 Ages 5 & 6: 9:30 am–12:30 pm Ages 7-12: 9:30 am–1 pm

CONSERVATORY

Online Registration Now Open

TheHanoverTheatre.org/conservatory

877.571.7469 • TheHanoverTheatre.org/conservatory

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Requirements: Maintain credit union membership. Primary account owner must be age 18 or older, with a minimum of $1,000 monthly direct deposit into a Central Advantage account. Safety paper checks available annually. Program terms and rates subject to change. See branch or website for details.

Federally insured by NCUA.

800-527-1017 | centralfcu.com Behind the Scenes at The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory • Spring/Summer 2019

page 19

Creative Movement Ignites Love for Dance This spring, The Hanover Theatre Conservatory for the Performing Arts began working with the Seven Hills ASPiRE! program as a community partner to offer daytime creative movement dance classes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), autism, and brain injury. Seven Hills ASPiRE! is an affiliate of Seven Hills Foundation and offers innovative and creative programming that provides opportunities for these individuals to develop the skills necessary to pursue interests in employment, recreation, and social interaction.

For individuals with IDD and other special health care needs, especially adults, the social and emotional challenges associated with healthy development are often overlooked. Many develop feelings of social withdrawal, low self-esteem and confusion, and for those with moderate to severe developmental disabilities, a lack of basic social skills. It is important to make physical, socially interactive and community focused activities a priority for this specialized population.

The Seven Hills ASPiRE! Creative Movement Dance program was developed to help participants

stay active, increase self-esteem and encourage community interaction in a fun and safe environment.

Three days a week, the conservatory offers hour long classes for ASPiRE! participants including a women’s class on Mondays, a men’s class on Wednesdays and a class for mobility impaired participants on Thursdays.

Classes are taught by members of the conservatory’s dance faculty and are held in the conservatory’s state-of-the-art studios.

For individuals with disabilities that have limited mobility, the class is a unique way to increase activity, which in turn increases their coordination, flexibility, balance and quality of movement. Jennifer Agbay, the director of dance at the conservatory, says “the participants have become much more confident through this program. They have shown progress in mobility and in their body awareness as well as their spatial awareness. I have also seen progress in their community, they are more trusting of each other and are willing to take risks in a group setting.”

Conservatory instructors utilize creative and accessible movements that can be adapted to each individual’s abilities in order to help them realize their

Women’s class participants pose with instructor Garine Avakian, conservatory ballet mistress Ana Luisa Thompson-Konopka and conservatory director of dance Jennifer Agbay.

page 20

TheHanoverTheatre.org • 877.571.SHOW(7469)

own movement potential. “Creative Movement is the best style of dance for these participants as this genre allows them to move as organically and creatively as they wish to be” says Agbay. One of the participants, Shannon M., says “When I was little I saw kids dancing and I couldn’t. Now I can.” Another, Liz H., said “I love it, I feel inspired.”

Above, men’s class participants stretch with conservatory instructor Charlotte McNutt. Below, ASPiRE! participants share a moment of creative expression, photos ©Erb photography.

“We are so appreciative to Jennifer Agbay and The Hanover Theatre Conservatory for their commitment and desire to increase access to the creative arts for individuals with IDD and brain injury” says Elizabeth Vittum, assistant vice president of development for Seven Hills Foundation. “The Creative Movement Dance Program has been so well received by Seven Hills ASPiRE! participants who are grateful for their first community-based opportunity to discover their love for dance. Their enthusiasm is infectious and we look forward to growing this partnership in the future.”

Although this pilot program is a partnership with Seven Hills ASPiRE!, the conservatory hopes to offer these types of classes to the public in the future. This program was made possible by a Creative Spark grant from the Greater Worcester Community Foundation.

- article contributor, Ann Lane, Seven Hills volunteer.

Behind the Scenes at The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory • Spring/Summer 2019

page 21

INSTINCTIVELY DIFFERENT

• G7 Qualified Master Printer • Structural Design • Folding Cartons • Packaging • Brochures / Annual Reports • Catalogs / Magazines • Direct Mail • Full Mailing Services • Fulfilllment Programs • FSC Certified

Behind the Scenes

Magazine is published twice a year by The Hanover Theatre. All rights reserved. All images, unless otherwise noted, © The Hanover Theatre.

Editor: Lisa K. Condit Designer: Monica Wagner Elefterion Contributors: Jennifer Agbay, Lillian Irwin, HIllary Jacobson, Meghan Montaner, Diane Pieciak, Kelly Rourke and Harmony Wheeler.

Plan now to advertise in our next fall issue.

Contact Diane Pieciak, senior sales manager, at 508.930.2424 or diane@thehanovertheatre.org.

Save $10-$14 Per Ticket with Your Group!

694 Center Street, Chicopee MA Contact Carol Lyman at 413.737.9412 ext 130 or clyman@amlitho.com for information and pricing on your printing and packaging needs.

We offer great discounts on most shows for groups of 10 or more. No deposit required!

We are happy to help you organize your next group trip to the theatre. Call Daniella Marie at 508.471.1763 to reserve seats today.

The Hanover Theatre Youth Summer Program presents

July 26-27 and August 16-17 A junior version will be presented on Saturday, August 10 Tickets on sale at TheHanoverTheatre.org page 22

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Worcester Center for Performing Arts is a registered not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, which owns and operates The Hanover Theatre and Conservatory for the Performing Arts. All donations are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

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